The month of Spain has been and gone, but it’s a close cousin in the limelight for the month of March, with a generous 20% off all the wines of Chile.

Top 10 or so random facts about Chile and her glorious wine

1. Chile’s population is heading on an estimated 17 million. They speak Spanish and their currency is Chilean pesos.

2. More than 4,300 km long and an average of just 177 km wide, the country is rich in geographic and climatic diversity rarely found in a single country.

3. Their principal exports are fish, paper, copper, fruit, pulp… oh, and wine.

4. Chile claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.

5. One of Chile’s founding fathers was Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme. He was of Irish descent, with his father being born in Sligo. There is a plaque in his honour in Merrion Square, Dublin, and in the Garavogue River Walkway in Sligo.

6. Wine grape vines arrived in the 1500s with the Spanish missionaries who needed wine to celebrate the Catholic mass (around 80% of the population are now Catholic).

7. Chile’s signature grape is Carménère, which was thought to be Merlot until the mid-1990′s. It was brought over from Bordeaux, before Phylloxera had hit the region. It is now in the safe hands of the Chileans, and boy, are they making good use of it.

8. The Atacama desert is the driest place on earth. Lying just south of it is Limarí Valley, where some of Chile’s most exciting and concentrated wines are being nurtured.

9. Chile uses less pesticides in the vineyard than any other wine producing nation. As a result, many of the wines are organic, despite not being certified organic.

10. For reasons that have never fully been understood, Chile remains Phylloxera-free to this day.

Thanks to winesofchile.org for some of the fab content. Click here to view our sale on Chilean wines.

‘A paradise for wine growers and wine lovers’, glowed David Gonzalez, head wine-maker at Santa Alicia, when we asked him last month about Chile.

We mightn’t be qualified to comment on the growing bit but one thing’s for certain, Irish wine-lovers love Chile, and so do we. So much so, we’ve knocked 20% off every bottle in March!

Highlights include 2007 Chilean Winery of the Year Santa Alicia, now only €7.75 for the Reserva range, our budget-friendly organic Sierra Grande down to €6.63, and the premium Tabali from €9.59.

And, if you want a whistle-stop tour in a box, our Case of the Month is A Taste of Chile, 12 of our favourites with a stonking €31.88 in savings.

James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion has rated Langmeil Winery five stars for the last five years running, placing it amongst the very top echelon of Australian Wineries. More than that, Langmeil are sitting on a bit of Australian wine heritage – a three and a half acre vineyard that was planted in 1843 called “The Freedom”, believed to be the oldest Shiraz vines in Australia, and possibly the world.

You can save €6 when you buy two of the Village series, and €10 when you buy two of the Old Vine Garden series, including the limited availability 1843 Freedom.

Finally, if it’s good quaffing with a taste of sunshine you’re after, look no further than our Californian corner where we’ve got 2 for €15 on Fish Eye and Winston Hill.

Offers will run until 31st March or, as ever, while stocks last.

David Gonzalez is chief winemaker at Santa Alicia, the winery which picked up Best Chilean Wine Producer at the 2007 International Wine & Spirits Competition. This is the man behind undoubtedly some of the best Chilean wines to reach Irish shores, and we’re really happy to have him answer our questions. (Click here to view the range)

1. What is your favourite grape to work with and why?

I think that almost any grape can be transformed into good wine depending on the passion of the winemaker, but personally I like Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenérè when it comes to our range of reds. The first one is for me one of the most complete varieties to produce wine. You get flavours, aromas, structure, volume, a bit of everything if you now how to work with it. Carmenérè on the other hand represents a challenge to the skills of a winemaker looking for the right time to harvest and the right management in the cellar. Also this variety is becoming Chile’s own and that is also a challenge for the winemakers to get the best from this variety.

2. What is the highlight of making your own wine? What part of the process do you most enjoy?

To make wines that reflect the characteristics of the grape variety and terroir is important for me. I enjoy the process of making wine as a whole, especially the fermentation process when the wine starts to express itself properly. I love tasting the wines at each stage.

3. If you couldn’t make wine in Chile any more, where would you go?

I think I could enjoy making wine anywhere, each place represents a different challenge and with that in mind I have no preference for a country different than Chile.

4. You have an incredible medal collection at Santa Alicia. Is it difficult to maintain these standards?

For us, Medals are not an objective but a result. Keeping or increasing quality standards is a duty which we are truly committed to. Every day we try to improve the quality of our products and have better practices in our processes. It is a daily challenge but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a difficult one.

5. What makes Chile so special as a wine-producing country?

There are many factors that make of Chile a special country for producing wine. Its geography offers you a huge diversity of climates and soils, a long dry and warm season, the long coast with the influence of the Humbolt current and the Andes Mountains. All of them make Chile a paradise for wine growers and wine lovers.

Thanks to David Gonzalez and Santa Alicia.

Our range from Santa Alicia.

There’s a great amount of time, energy and expense that goes into Santa Alicia’s Gran Reserva range. The wines are subject to 12 months in French oak, with a further 12 months in bottle before release. It’s a nice step up from the already impressive Reserva range.

To view product page and for more details, click on Santa Alicia Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon.

It’s not only Cork that’s been affected, but it’s a chilly day throughout Ireland with temperatures hovering around the 0°C mark. Getting about this morning was like taking your car onto an ice rink that had just been rained upon. In fact, that’s pretty much what it was.

No matter, there’s another kind of Chilly that will be passing my lips this Christmas. So here’s a quick shot synopsis of the history of my favourite South American wine producing nation for those who are not in the know.

Because Chile’s wines have only arrived in the UK and Ireland in big numbers over the last decade or so, it’s tempting to assume that Chile’s wine industry is a relatively young one. Tempting, but wrong…

Grapes have been grown in Chile since the 1500s when the conquistadors took over cuttings from Spain to grow their sacramental wine. What they were growing wasn’t, frankly, something you’d want to drink unless you had to. But the modern industry began as long ago as 1824, when the first wealthy businessman decided he wanted to grow French grape varieties.

Soon, everyone who was anyone was at it, and expensive wine estates – planted with Bordeaux grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and Burgundy grapes like Chardonnay, were springing up all over the valleys south of the capital.

By the 1980s, the industry had its second re-birth, when producers began to invest in the same sort of new technology that has boosted winemaking standards in places like Australia and California. This, combined with an even-better understanding of just what makes the country’s vineyards tick, has given wines of unrivalled purity of fruit flavours and even more reliability than before. Technology and tradition in perfect harmony: the ongoing story of Chile’s wine industry.

What’s growing down in Chile?

Whites: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Riesling.

Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Carmenere.

Among others of course.

Content courtesy of Wines of Chile UK.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz have traditionally been the big red players in the global wine market. There are a number of reasons these varietals have gained such popularity, one factor being that they are all relatively easy to cultivate, another being that they simply produce excellent wines. But if you are the sort of person that likes to explore or have a break from the norm, it’s time to try Carmenère.

Widely grown in the Médoc in the 18th century, Carmenère produced exceptionally good wine but was abandoned due to susceptibility to coulure and the resulting low yields. In the 19th century, cuttings of Merlot were taken to Chile, however it was later found that the majority of these vines were in fact Carmenère (up to 90% in certain vineyards). They look so similar, and don’t taste miles apart either, but they ripen at different times. So a field of Merlot and Carmenère vines harvested at the same time often produced a bit of a monster wine.

The fascinating part of this story is that Chile only officially recognised Carmenère as recently as 1996, and it has only been able to label wines as Carmenère since 1998. In this time many Chilean winemakers have come to grips with managing this wonderful grape. Like Pinot Noir, it’s fussy. Between winter and harvest time, too much rain can play havoc with the final flavours, and on the flip-side, a site that is too hot can off set the balance with too much alcohol. But Chile has many sites that are perfectly suited, and it looks like what is a loss to France, is a gain for Chile.

A big, full-bodied wine, Carmenère makes powerful, spicy reds with low acidity, fairly high tannins and a velvety texture. Expect flavours of dark, sweet fruit (blackberry and plum) and perhaps green bell pepper and green bean when under-ripe.

Who knows, had it worked out in France, Carmenère could have been rolling of the tongue as easily as Merlot. Maybe some day it will. Just don’t believe that it’s only the noble grapes varieties that can produce stunning wine.

There’s no better place to start than with Santa Alicia’s Carmenère.

Back in June of this year, Waitrose (Decanter’s Supermarket of the Year 2009) began to stock a new range of wines from Chile. The wine was shipped in 24,000 litre flexitanks and bottled in the UK, saving 32,000 bottles – or 16 tons of glass – that no longer needed to be shipped. As a result, there was a reduction in carbon emissions, shipping, distribution and production costs.

A green innovation that saves money for retailers and consumers is a win win. We have several lines of our own that use the same distribution method, helping us to retail good quality wine at low prices. The Paarl Heights and Sierra Grande range are good examples.

The winemakers firstly ensure that they are buying quality grapes at a good price, and they instruct the farmers on the methods required to grow the best fruit. The wines are made in their native country, shipped on lees, allowing the ageing time required, before being stabilised and bottled in Europe (France in the case of the above). So the wine has travelled half way around the world without the excess weight of their packaging.

The Last Stand is another good example. In the likes of Chile there is more control required by the winemaker in the vineyard, but in Australia it’s a buying process for inexpensive wines. These grapes are actually selected by buyers at Tim Burvill’s Rockbare winery, who make more expensive and superior drops in comparison, but help to produce a fabulous budget wine that may have been set at a slightly higher price had they been imported all the way from OZ in bottle.

For higher priced wine, the saving obviously won’t make as much of a difference on the retail price, and the process as a whole is not going to stop global warming by itself, but it is a step in the right direction and if it helps keep the price vs quality ratio favourable, then who’s complaining?

One of the jewels in our range, Santa Alicia has become a firm favourite with our loyal customers since we opened our doors in November of last year. And believe me, we couldn’t hide our excitement after learning we’d be stocking wine from Chilean Winery of the Year for 2007, as awarded by the International Wine and Spirit Competition. The first trophy was awarded for the Gran Reserva Merlot 2003 – named as best Chilean wine of the competition.

Santa Alicia vineyards are located in the Pirque region in the heart of Maipo Valley, where some of the best ‘terroir’ for Chilean wines is found. These vineyards are irrigated by a very small amount of pure, crystal water coming from the melting snow of the Andes Mountains, which helps in achieving a high concentration of fruit. Winemaker, David Gonzalez, has been at the winery since 1997. David’s philosophy of winemaking is not only based on good vine stock, but also on the knowledge given by enology.

Two years later, Santa Alicia continues to churn out an astonishingly superior range at low cost, allowing us to price very keenly. The wines have continued to gain notoriety, the Reserva Merlot picking up a Gold Medal at the Ottawa Wine and Food Show in Canada, and the Reserva Chardonnay (pictured) landing Gold at Vinales do’r Paris and Mundus Vini in Germany. Both were labelled ‘Best Buy’ by Wine Enthusiast.

It’s no surprise that these two keep ending up as wine of choice at weddings across the country since we introduced them to Ireland. The Santa Alicia fan base is young, but it’s growing… and growing fast.

Chile has it all. The heritage of its ancient cultures, the Atacama Desert (the driest in the world), the fertile Central Valley, a Lake District the length of Sweden, the wilds of Patagonia, and the ice-filled wonders of Antarctica all squeezed into a narrow strip between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

It has now become one of the most important sources of inexpensive varietal wines in the world. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon – you name it. Chile does it, and does it well.

Most Chilean regions have fertile soils and a plentiful supply of irrigation water from rivers. The climate is generally hot, and most vines, especially for inexpensive wines, are planted on the floor of the Central Valley that runs north-south between the Coastal mountain range and the Andes.

As well as the traditional grape varieties, Chile is producing some truly brilliant Syrah and Pinot Noir. Be sure to seek out Carmenère the next time you’re on the hunt for a big, full red wine. For years this grape was mistaken by the Chileans for Merlot, and now that it’s almost extinct from its native homeland of Bordeaux, Chile has taken it on as its own. It makes powerful, spicy wines with low acidity, fairly high tannins and a velvety texture. Expect flavours of dark fruit (blackberry) and perhaps green bell pepper and green bean when under-ripe.

Chile operates a system of regional DOs (denominations of origin) in which regions are divided into sub-regions. You may be familiar with Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Maipo Valley and Casablanca Valley. Another very interesting region is Limarí, as you’ll find out from reading this recent blog post.

If you like to treat yourself to something over €10 the odd time, try a Chilean wine instead of a safe French or Australian. You’d be surprised at the quality vs price ratio at this level as well. Here’s a few excellent examples of the kind of value on offer, especially with an additional 10% off on marked prices.

Sierra Grande Sauvignon Blanc (Organically produced from Central Valley)

Santa Alicia Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley)

Tabali Carmenère (Limarí)

Villard Pinot Noir (Casablanca)

You’re probably quite familiar with the Chilean wines of Maipo and Casablanca, but there’s a new region coming to the fore which, in a recent article in Decanter, was labelled the ‘promised land’. Limarí Valley is one of the rising stars within the wine industry.

Located 250 miles north of Santiago, and just south of Atacama, the driest place on earth, Limarí is steeped in history. Hunter gatherers have inhibited the area for around 4000 years, so it’s a prime location for excavations and archaeology. Today, the agricultural significance still remains for traditional farmers, and now grape growers. There are strong coastal influences, which play a vital role here.

The mountain range, which hugs the shoreline, begins in the Valley and the lower elevation allows ocean breezes to sweep in throughout the day. The many sunlight hours and high daytime temperatures promote vigorous grape growth, with the low temperatures in the evening helping the fruit to rest and use their sugars to synthesize aromatic substances. Despite the morning mist and dense coastal fog – known as camanchaca – water is scarce. Drip irrigation is the rule, with small amounts of water being fed to the vine to achieve the perfect ripeness and concentration.

The unique limestone bed buried under Limarí Valley’s alluvial clay soils is particularly good for white grapes. The wines show a very appealing flinty quality resulting from desert soil rich in minerals, calcium and salt. With the variation in soil composition and depth, along with an irregular landscape marked by slopes, creeks, and hillside planting, grape growers can choose which varietals to use, depending on microclimate and soil.

So essentially Limarí is a very dry, cool climate region. There aren’t many places in the world quite like it. These natural conditions encourage grapes to ripen slowly, promoting crisp natural acidity and the development of outstanding aromas.

Our Limarí range comes from the heart of the valley, where we have managed to source three reds, a white and a dessert wine from Tabalí. You’ll see what we mean about the character of the whites if you get the chance to try the Viognier, and if you’re mad for red, the Decanter 5 star Reserve blend is for you. There is  10% off the marked prices on all Chilean wines for the months of May and June.